RHOP participants and alternates announced

The selections for students seeking careers in eight health fields were based on college entrance examination scores, academic success and leadership exhibited throughout their high school careers and in personal interviews.

RHOP began in 1990 as a joint venture between CSC and the University of Nebraska Medical Center to help counter the shortage of medical professionals in rural Nebraska. Graduates of RHOP are encouraged and expected to return to the rural areas of Nebraska to practice.

Students selected as participants in the program take pre-professional training at CSC with guaranteed pre-admittance to one of the UNMC sites if the program’s standards are met. The dental students will take advanced training at Lincoln, the nursing students at Scottsbluff, dental hygiene at Gering and the others in Omaha.

Often, the alternates become primary participants before their training at CSC is completed.

Kristal Kuhnel, director of special projects, said she was amazed at the maturity and organizational skills of the prospective students throughout the application process.

“It was such an honor to be part of the process. They are all outstanding students. We are very excited about the incoming class’ potential and are really looking forward to them joining us in the fall,” Kuhnel said.

Faculty members Dr. Ann Buchmann, Dr. Joyce Hardy, Dr. Wendy Jamison, Dr. Tim Keith and Dr. Zachary Varpness participated in the selection process and interviews.

Selected students

Clinical Laboratory Science

Participant: Ashley Fattig, Ellsworth, Alliance High School.

Dental Hygiene

Participants: Toni Doescher, Chadron, Chadron High School; Samantha Vermillion, Alliance, Alliance High School.

Medicine

Participants: Evelyn Causgrove, Nebraska City, Nebraska City High School; Kiya Passero, Chadron, Chadron High School; Tucker Vahle, Grand Island, Grand Island Senior High School; Eve Vanderneck, Henderson, Heartland Community Schools; Kassandra Wetovick, Wood River, Wood River Rural Schools.

Alternates: Morgan Johnston, Alliance, Alliance High School; Hunter Masoner, Franklin, Franklin Public High School; Blake Walker, Fremont, Fremont Senior High; Audrey Wilhelm, Royal, Orchard Public Schools.

Nursing

Participants: Sydney Anderson, North Platte, North Platte High School; Cherokee Frahm-Thayer, Nelson, Lawrence/Nelson; Hannah Harwager, Stapleton, Stapleton Public School; Tristen Johnson, Arnold, Arnold High School; Abigail Oakes, Alliance, Alliance High School; Lydia Privett, Wahoo, Wahoo High School.

Pharmacy

Participant: Quentin Baxter, Bridgeport, Bridgeport High School.

Physical Therapy

Participants: Ashley Tarnick, Doniphan, Doniphan-Trumbull High School; Christa Wentworth, Emmet, West Holt Public High School.

Alternate: Joel Schroeder, Paxton, Paxton Consolidated Schools.

Physician’s Assistant

Participants: Katie Reed, Holdrege, Holdrege High School; Avery Taylor, Thedford, Thedford High School.

Alternate: Logan Clark, Ainsworth, Ainsworth High School.

Radiography

Participant: Mercedes Mach, Humphrey, Humphrey Public Schools